US safety regulators have opened a preliminary investigation on about three million older Jeep Grand Cherokees with fuel tanks that may present a fire risk in a crash, the regulator's website said today.
The investigation was opened yesterday by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The action is short of a recall, and a Chrysler spokesman said that there is no action to be taken now by owners of the model year 1993-2004 Grand Cherokees.
The Center for Auto Safety last October petitioned the traffic administration to open an investigation into the Grand Cherokees, saying its records show that from 1992 to 2008 the SUVs were involved in 172 fatality crashes with 254 deaths.
The petition did not say how many, if any, of those deaths were related to the fuel tanks.
Chrysler said in a statement it is "cooperating fully" traffic safety body adding: "It is important to note that this is an investigation, not a recall."
Jeep Grand Cherokees from 1993-2004 "meet or exceed all applicable federal safety standards and have an excellent safety record," said Chrysler.
Reuters